Game apparatus



A. BL'HEAP 81H. H. VAN KURAN. GAME APPARATUS-.

N0. 574,150, Patented Dec. 29,.1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE.

ANNIE B. HEAP AND HELEN II. VAN KURAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

GAM E APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,150, dated December29, 1896. Applioation filed March 2'7, 1896. Serial No. 585,056. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ANNIE B. HEAP and HELEN H. VAN KURAN, of Chicago,in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to apparatus for a childrens game in the playingof which chips or ivory disks are thrown into holes through the cover ofa box by means of a spring adapted to be worked with the finger of theplayer; and one of the objects of our improvements is to provide meansin conjunction with certain of the holes through the cover wherebyfigures in another part of the box will be elevated by the chips to givevariety to the game or increase the interest of the players therein.

Another of the objects is to so construct the box and its cover as tofacilitate the removal of the chips from the box between innings whileplaying the game.

WVe attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of a game apparatus of theclass mentioned containing our invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection of the same. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section just below the coverof the box, showing a top View of the uncovered box and its partitionsand internal mechanism. Fig. 4 shows an enlarged fragmentarysectional-view having the action and elevated position of the figureindicated by dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a detail showing a detached part inperspective.

In the drawings, A designates a low box having one side open a portionof the way at B B and provided with a cover 0, hinged at c and havingaround three sides downward lyprojecting pieces 0. The other portion ofthe box has a fixed or permanently-attached cover 0 v The hinged coveris provided with circular openings 3 2 1 5, and the permanent cover hassmaller openings 0. The part under the hinged cover is separated fromthe other part by a partition D and is divided by partitions D intoseveral compartments or pockets falling under the openings in the hingedcover. These several compartments have open ends at B B when the hingedcover is raised, but these are closed by the side piece C at that sidewhen the hinged cover is lowered.

Cups or pans E are pivoted to a wire e, extended across the box andsupported by intermediate partitions e or other suitable supports, sothat one of said pans will fall under each of the openings 5 ofthehinged cover. Each of said pans has an arm E, to which a figure F isattached, the figure slightly overbalancing the pan, so as to raise itup against the under side of the hinged cover while the figure goes downin the box beneath the openings 0 through the permanently attachedportion 0 of the box-cover, there being a slot (1 in the partition D forthe arm E to work in.

In playing the game a number of chips or counters G are employed. Theseare thrown by means of a spring H, attached to a board H or othersuitable support and having a recess or cup 71. to hold the chip whilethe spring is being manipulated, the object being to bear down upon thespring and then suddenly let it go, so as to give just enough force tothrow the chip into the holes through the hinged cover. IVhen the chipis thrown into any of the holes 5, it will be caught by the pan E, andthe added weight of the chip will cause the pan to overbalance thefigure and go down, while the figure will come up through the opening 0and remain up until the chip is displaced.

The cross-piece I, under which the spring is'received, is provided witha cut, giving a curve 1' along a portion of its edge, so that the springmay be set at different angles for aiming at the different holes.

After each inning the cover 0 is raised and the count made according tothe values as signed to the different pockets into which the chips fall,and the raising of the cover opens the pockets at the side B B, so thatby tilting the box the chips will slide out at that side. The pansshould have very little or no upturned edge toward the open side of thebox, so that the chips falling upon them will also slide out when thebox is tilted.

The board H is adapted to lie under the hinged cover when the spring isdetached, and the chips and spring may be stored in the pockets of thebox when the apparatus is not in use.

What weclaim is 1. A game apparatus comprising abox having movablefigures supported by pivoted arms beneath openings through a rigid partthe cover and a spring-pan for throwi-ng countersinto therseveralpockets as specified.

3. In a game apparatus of the class mentioned the combination with thebox having the pockets the cover with holes over the pockets, of thespring-holder provided with the curved edge 1' for adjusting the springat different angles to the box for the purpose specified.

ANNIE 13. I'IEAP. HELEN I-I. VAN KURAN.

Witnesses:

ANNIE M. ADAMS, ELLIS LEVY.

